Gareth Witty: Glad you are here. I think I echo many when I ask:

What made you go into magic?

Any advice for us mere mortals you could give?

Your fave effect?

And why do you have a pic of you on the website, sitting on the bog with a Paul Daniels book?

Also anything new in the works we should all watch for?

Pete Firman: Here we go.........

I got into magic as a kid after watching Paul D. on TV. Pretty textbook answer. He's got alot to answer for!

Advice? I guess just try and be yourself, that is key. Don’t just take a trick and perform it as written, stamp it with your own personality. Make it about you and your interests, loves, fears, anything.

My fave effect? Al Flosso's Misers Dream.

The pic on the website? I didn’t know it was being taken. Its a good job I intercepted it before it made its way to Heat!

Look out for an effect I co-created with Anthony Owen that we will be releasing through www.tvmagic.co.uk later this year...

Magic is Nice: I think you are the best magician in the world. I liked it on monkey magic when you threw cards at each other. That was funny. I have a question though: would you describe yourself as a CP or a WP?

Pete Firman: Thanks Mum. Chips with peas please.

Completely Unethical: With so many magicians working on tv at the moment and all working at the same production company , my question is how do you decide who does what? Also, where are you performing live next as I would love to watch you at work.

Pete Firman: Performers vary project to project depending on the requirements. Also while not always in front of the camera we can write material for other shows or be involved in the production side of things.

To find out where to see me live join up to my mailing list at www.petefirman.co.uk and receive regular Pete updates!

Gold Fish: In another thread you mentioned living with Ali Cook and how it was a really productive time. You've had the privelage of working with some of the most creative talents in "magic television" today (and deservedly so). I know that when I get together with dome of my close magical friends, we have a great time throwing ideas around.

How important is this process for you, especially in your television work?

And also, what is your favourite idea to have come out of that?

Pete Firman: AHHH Stockton, how I miss thee!

The creative process is the most important facet of what I do. A lot of time is spent bouncing ideas around before they are shaped to become what you see on screen. Sometimes we write all together, for instance on Monkey Magic series 2 the 4 of us and Anthony (Owen) hired a cottage out in the middle of nowhere for a long weekend. We spent the time messing around with concepts and premises. We never sit down and force it, its much more free form, I call Jonathan a baldy t**t, he calls me a scruffy northern pr**k then Ali says, “What about Vernon's New Theory on the New Theory Double”. I'm paraphrasing.v

Other times its just me, my laptop, my library and a lot of coffee.

For TV, originality is key. I don't mean we invent everything, but we want to present a new experience for our audience. We try to avoid anything done on TV in recent memory, Balducci levitation and that old suggesting things to advertisers subconsciously 'bit' would be a no, no! However as we all know, nothing is truly 'new' so of course we are inspired by those who have gone before, that's the nature of art (Oh please!)

My fav routine?

I have lots, I loved the Spirit Painting routine I performed with Ali in France on The Secret World of Magic. But I guess right now, its probably the Goldfish routine from the first episode of DT. That came out of a brainstorm session with Andrew O'Connor, Anthony, David Britland, Ali and me. It was a case of, “…and then this could happen!” “Oh, Oh……..you could follow it up with this…” It was great, it's a piece I'm really proud of.

Turgon: First off I'd let you know my muggle mate thinks you are without a doubt the best magician on dirty tricks (just to give you an ego boost, we all love 'em ). So what you favorite type of magic? Geek magic like on dirty tricks, or illusions or close up?

Pete Firman: Thanks. Your 'muggle mate' sounds like they're an intelligent kind of person. I guess at the moment I'm enjoying stand-up magic, but only because I'm doing it the most. I still love close-up and occasionally perform at the odd premier or corporate!

I love to watch performers with great character Goshman, Flosso, Vernon, Nyman, Sankey. Forget tricks (although among that list are some belters) just them really performing, working an audience. That’s what I love. I learnt so much more by watching 'performance' at a convention rather than routine.

John Doe: I think DT is the best thing since slice bread. All except that Bloody hypnotist. In my opinion it’s not magic; it’s not funny and isn’t even close to that guy balancing a motorbike on his teeth. So, what’s your opinion?

Pete Firman: Hey hey! I hear what you're saying. I think one of the virtues of DT is the fact there are different sections and everyone has their own favorite. There may be a few (and I mean a few) people that hate my bit but love Rajan The Evil Hypnotist. I doubt it, but you see my point!

I like Rajan, he's a lovely bloke and not in the least bit 'evil'.

As for Crazy Frank, the balancing guy, he was nuts!